Pre-Nursing

Why choose pre-nursing at North Central College?

North Central College offers a pre-nursing program designed to give you a solid foundation in the liberal arts and sciences and prepare you to pursue further studies. You have the flexibility to select from any of North Central's majors while completing the required prerequisite courses to apply to a nursing program. North Central offers preparation in the pre-health sciences that can help you pursue not simply a job, but a career in nursing.

North Central College’s affiliation agreement with Chicago's Rush University College of Nursing guarantees qualified applicants admission to Rush’s Generalist Entry Master’s (GEM) program. The GEM program prepares students to be graduate nurse clinicians with a focus in clinical leadership. Graduates are prepared to function at a high level in inpatient, outpatient and community settings.

You can also:

Explore opportunities to volunteer or job shadow at places like Almost Home Kids, a Naperville-based pediatric, short-term care home that services children who are medically fragile.

Sara spent a year at another college before making the switch to North Central. It’s a decision she’ll never regret.

“When I came here, it was a completely different experience and it’s made me a better person. I was challenged more than I’d ever been before, but my professors helped me through it,” she says. “North Central is an amazing school to attend—especially if you’re interested in going into science.”

Alex had plans to become a lawyer to help underserved communities in developing countries. But a study abroad trip to Ecuador, where she observed the state of healthcare, changed her plans.

“I realized I wanted a career that gave me direct contact meeting the needs of the underserved. I switched to nursing to focus on patient care and form personal connections.”

When Alex returned to campus, she connected with the College’s pre-professional health program coordinator and learned about North Central’s affiliation with Rush University’s Generalist Entry Master’s program in nursing.

“I had to start from scratch midway through college to begin my required science classes. The professors were...

As a student, Rachel Craghead had no trouble balancing academics with campus involvement, volunteerism and other pursuits. In addition to excelling in North Central College’s rigorous psychology curriculum, Rachel held leadership positions with the College’s orientation staff, Uncommon Life Movement and Blue Key Honor Society.

Rachel paired her passion for service with the opportunity to gain experience in the medical field during D-Term her senior year.

“I set up a trip to Haiti through Mission of Hope,” Rachel says. “I knew I wanted to work in the medical field, and this trip allowed me to gain valuable experiences.” While in Haiti, she shadowed medical professionals, including nurses, doctors...

After a service trip to Haiti with the North Central College student group Break Away, Mackenzie decided to focus her career on helping others.

“I began to think about how nursing could provide an avenue to continue serving others throughout my lifetime,” she says.

Mackenzie met with the pre-professional health advisor on campus and decided to pursue the generalist entry master’s (GEM) program at Rush University after graduation. To prepare for the program, she interned at a pediatric practice in Lisle. She shadowed a nurse with more than 20 years of experience.

After completing the GEM program, Mackenzie will be a registered nurse. She hopes to someday perform medical services around the...